The New Era Chapter 29

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEW ERA
Eva watched the situation unfold carefully on her monitor. Once the Veletti had been distracted by Uther, Mucius signaled an attack from one side of the square. Soon the Veletti were focusing on these Watchers, and Uther disappeared. Then, Eva signaled to Estaci, and the two of them attacked the Veletti from the other side of the square. The battle became a heated on in no time.
Eva felt a searing pain as a disc tore through her arm. She quickly sought shelter behind a building, then grabbed the medicine ball that had been placed there before the attack in case of emergencies. As the medicine ball worked its magic, the pain soon left her.
Eva returned to the battle just in time to see all the Veletti disappear, appearently giving up the battle. Gaius was left standing alone.
Gaius held his laser gun ready, preparing to carry the fight out. Seeing several other laser guns pointed at him, Gaius dropped his own gun, loving his life too much to give it up.
Katina rushed behind the building. "Is she alright?" she asked.
Hans turned to answer, but he could not. He tried hard to get the words out, but they remained stuck in his throat. Mucius shook his head. "I’m sorry Katina," he said. "Kyoko’s dead."
Hearing those words struck Hans, pushing him back to the power of speech. "No, she’s not! You’re wrong Mucius, you’re wrong!"
Mucius grabbed Hans gently. "Hans, she’s gone. Let it go."
Uther appeared. "How is she?" he asked.
Hans whirled on him. "You should know! Aren’t you omniscient?"
Uther looked sadly at Kyoko. "I’m sorry Hans. I know you two were close."
Hans turned away. Tears welled up in his eyes, he felt sick to his stomach, his throat squeezed tight, and he felt like he was going to throw up. Suddenly, it all stopped for a minute. "You can bring her back to life, can’t you?"
It was one question Uther hoped he wouldn’t be asked. "Hans, please don’t ask me to do that."
"Can’t you?!" Hans demanded loudly.
"No, I can’t."
"You have the ability to, though?"
Uther sighed looking down, then looked back up at Hans. "I have the ability, yes, but I can’t do it. I can’t tamper with nature like that."
"Well what happens if you do?"
"Hans, it took my people years to find out even with our technology. I can’t explain it to you now. It would take months."
Hans yelled loudly. "Don’t give me that! Don’t you dare tell me that! If you’re going to let her die I need a reason, a damn good reason. What will happen if you bring her back to life?"
Uther hesitated a moment, unsure of what to say, before admitting in a tone of defeat, "for just one person, probably nothing."
Hans grabbed Uther and shook him. "You’ve got to bring her back."
"Hans, I don’t have the authority. My superiors will have my neck."
"This is your war! She was killed in your war, by your enemy! You have the responsibility to help her."
"Hans, we haven’t even resurrected our own dead. The Renegades who have died in this war have been left dead. What about all the other people all over the city? Everybody has people they know that have died. Besides, she wasn’t hit by our enemies, but by yours. That laser beam came from Gaius."
Hans hung his head slightly, and was about to turn away in defeat when another idea struck him. "How about if you take me in exchange?"
"What?"
"You resurrect Kyoko, then I’ll let you kill me. That way, the number of dead stays the same. You won't be breaking any rules. I'll just die instead of her."
"Hans, you know I can't do either."
"Please Uther, please help me out. Just this once, we fought Gaius fr you in Calet, we saved the lives of your ambassadors, just please do me his last favor."
Uther shook his head. "Alright Hans, I'm still going to get in trouble for this, but I'll do it."
Mucius stepped forward. "Hans, are you sure this is what you want?"
"I'm sure, bring her back."
Uther nodded, then solemnly, as if trying to install the seriousness of his actions on an unappreciative audience, he touched Kyoko, a surge of light flew from his hand to her body. She stirred slightly. Her eyelids moved rapidly. She stretched her arms out, and her eyes opened. She looked around her, evidently confused.
Hans swallowed the lump in his throat and extended his hand to her. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Okay I guess." Kyoko looked around and noticed all the people staring at her. "What happned? Are the Veletti still here?"
"There gone. The city is safe."
Kyoko took Hans' hand and he helped her too her feet. She looked closely at his face, her eyes made contact with his and she knew something was wrong. "What is it?" she asked. "What's wrong?"
Hans hugged Kyoko and held her tightly. "I love you Kyoko," he said. "I love you." She returned his hug. Their lips met each other in a passionate kiss.
Uther raised his arm and pointed it at Hans. A beam of energy flew out and hit him. He died in Kyoko's embrace and his body became limp in her arms.
Kyoko cried out. She looked at the others, her eyes pleading for help. "You were killed, Kyoko," Uther explained. "The only way I could bring you back is if Hans would die." With that, Uther disappeared.
Kyoko cradled Hans dead boddy in her arms. "Oh Hans, I love you too." She began to weep.


"Thank you once again, ladies and gentlemen, and may I welcome you to what is truly the last meeting of the team." Akristh noddd to those seated at the round table, Estaci, Eva, and Lauto, Pericula, and Kyoko (taking Hans' place.) "As you know, the city is officially returning to democracy. The team will host elections later today and tomorrow. Now before we get down to business--"
"Mind if I say a few words first?" It was Uther again, materializing into one of the empty seats.
"Do we have a choice?" Akristh asked.
Uther laughed cynically. "That was cute, verycute. Seriously though, I've come here to relate important information to you." Uther stopped, catching sight of Lauto. "How's your hand?" he asked.
She held up her right arm, which ended in a stump where her hand used to be. "The medicine ball is miraculous, " she explained, "bu even it wasn't able to regenerate my hand."
Uther touched her arm, and her hand suddenly reappeared. To the shocked team members he explained, "I'm in trouble anyway, I might as well make the most of it."
Lauto was speechless with joy, but was able to get out a "thank you."
Uther nodded, as if he did this sort of thing everyday. "Don't mention it," he said. "Now, back to business I have been sent here by my fellow Renegades. Our war is lost, our cause hopeless, for now. We're pulling out, retreating for a time to develop new weapons and new plans. This time, the gods can't access our computers through those on the city, because of the forcefield we put around the city." Not seeing the reaction he had hoped for, Uther sought to re-emphasize his point. "I don't think you understand the significance of what I'm saying. We've lost a war that took us thousands of years to prepare for. Thousands of years, and in a few days it was over."
"I'm sure we're all sorry to hear that," Akristh responded.
Uther exploded. "You better be! We could have won if it wasn't for the Watchers!"
"How do you figure that?" asked Eva.
"We spent time and effort on you Watchers that we could have spent on the actual war itself. Sending the ambassadors, putting up the force field, defending the city from the Veletti, it all took time. We lost because of you. If only you would have all left the city whenthe first ambassador came and talked to you."
"How could you say that?" Kyoko asked. "How could you even think that? One tenth of our population was killed in the invasion, fighting in your war. You dragged us into this war when you made us fight the Titos."
Uther covered hisface in his hands. "You're right, you're right, I'm sorry. I'm not feeling like myself today. I'm too tired." Uther looked up. "I'm on your side. Unfortunately, many of the Renegades are of the opinion I was previously expressing. They are angry at the Watchers, blaming you for our defeat."
"Should we be concerned?" asked Lauto.
"Well, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It's a tough time for us, emotions are running high and the Renegades are looking for someone to blame. Tempers will cool off soon enough. However, for right now at least we're ending diplomatic relations with you. I've been sent to give you our final orders."
"You can't give us orders," Eva protested. "You have no authority over us. We govern ourselves."
"We are stronger than you, therefore we have authority over you, at least that's what my colleagues are thinking. The choice is yours, of course,whether to obey these orders, but I would advise following them. First of all, you'll be happy to know we're leaving the forcefield up, but if in any way, you get in anymore trouble with th gods what so ever, you're on your own. To be blunt, we're breaking our promise about protecting the city. Secondly, Kile and Drusus are to remain in the city the rest of their lives. They know too much about the city to be allowed to go back to the rest of Fabulae."
"What about Rodens?" asked Lauto. "Do you want him back in the city too?"
"He's already dead," Uther responded. "We killed him, which is what will happen to Kile and Drusus if you decide to defy us."
"You what?" Kyoko was shocked. "You murdered him?"
"I was against the idea, but majority rules."
"You're just as bad as Jistap. The ends justify the means, is that how you think?" Kyoko asked.
"Please Kyoko, this isn't pleasant for me. I'm simply relating the decision."
"How are you going to kill Kile and Drusus from twenty light yeas away?" Pericula asked.
"If you decide to let Kile and Drusus out after we've left, there is nothing we can do about it. I'd seriously advise against it though. You would only be further deteriating relations. Now, on to the next order. You Watchers are not to leave the city again, ever, for any reason what so ever. I'll end with a bit of good news. We fixed the satellite. It no longer emits heat. The Colers will return to heir natural temperature. Good-bye everyone. As much as I like you all I hope we never have to meet again, because if the Renegades ever return in your lifetime, it will be to destroy The Watchers." Uther vanished.
Pericula turned to Akristh. "We can't keep Kile and Drusus inside the city. They belong in Calet."
"We'll decide things the way we always do," Akristh answered. "We'll vote on it."


Epilogue
As they said they would, the Renegades left for home. The Watchers, with one tenth of their population killed (including Antonius, who died before a medicine ball could be replicated), began returning to normal. Democracy was restored that day. The Watchers voted to follow all of the Renegades orders (for now). Kile and Drusus, both men without a family to return to, accepted their fate rather well, please about the luxuries the city could provide, but knowing they would miss their old life and friends. Gaius was imprisoned for the rest of his life in the city jails, narrowly escaping the death penalty, which was almost reinstated for hs case. The surviving members of the team, Lauto, Akristh, Estaci, and Eva, were punished rather lightly, after they pleaded that they were merely pawns in the hands of Bakes and Jistap, fearing for their lives if they disobeyed either. They were banned from politics for the rest of their lives, holding any office what so ever no matter how insignificant it might be. Kyoko was understandably in mourning for Hans for about a month, after which she had recovered completely, and went on with her life.


Oh yeah, in case you're wondering about Ishod, he and his friends in Dishon eventually defeated Azom, but that is a different story.

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